More than 400,000 services were provided at the Oncology Clinic over the past year, according to the clinic’s director, Ilir Kurtishi. Speaking on World Cancer Day, he said that around 14,000 cancer cases have been diagnosed in Kosovo over the past eight years. The clinic was visited during the day by the Acting Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, reports KosovaPress.
During the presentation of the clinic’s work, Kurtishi spoke about chemotherapy and radiotherapy services.
“Kosovo’s Oncology Clinic in 2025 provided over 408,000 services, divided between our two main services: chemotherapy and radiotherapy. What stands out is the very high number of pharmacological treatments we have administered, including cytostatic therapies as well as other forms of tablet-based treatment, biological therapies, immunological therapies, and others that we have available at the clinic. This accounts for around 100,000 services, meaning that the same patient may have received correct oncological treatment multiple times, often more than 10–15 times within the clinic. On the other hand, we also administered non-cytostatic medications, totaling 51,600 services, carried out by the Oncology Clinic’s medical staff, particularly the nursing staff,” Kurtishi said.
He added that over the past eight years there have been around 14,000 cancer cases in Kosovo.
“We have collected data for the past eight years in Kosovo, from 2018 to 2025, and based on our records at the adult Oncology Clinic—excluding pediatric and hematological tumors—the total number of cancer cases over these eight years is around 14,042. Year by year, we see that in 2022 there were 1,736 new cases reported for the first time at the Oncology Clinic. In 2023, this number rose to 2,126; in 2024 it was 2,119; and in 2025 we see a slight decrease, with around 2,100 cases,” he added.
The Acting Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, visited the Oncology Clinic on World Cancer Day. He acknowledged that efforts must be made to eliminate long waiting times for patients receiving services at the clinic.
“Some services, not necessarily at a highly advanced tertiary level, could potentially be decentralized. What we saw today—the number of patients waiting downstairs at the Oncology Clinic—is likely a daily reality for you. Doubling the number of beds, which you have already done, is not enough. Increasing equipment, such as radiotherapy machines, is also not sufficient on its own. You have such a high patient flow that we need to help you manage it. This support must always be in cooperation with you, because you are the experts. Our aim should be to reduce the flow of patients at the Oncology Clinic in Pristina, making it easier both for patients and for you, so you are not under such daily pressure,” Vitia said.
He pledged that the Ministry of Health will continue to focus on malignant diseases, modernization of services, and ensuring access to therapy.
Regarding investment costs and patient life expectancy, former Oncology Clinic director Ekrem Hyseni said Kosovo has the lowest spending in the region.
In terms of spending, we are the country that spends the least on oncology in the region— even Montenegro spends more. Cost-effectiveness is very important, but in the end, you cannot escape the fact that a family member is not just a number; they are a person with a family and children,” he said.
Among other issues, Acting Minister of Health Arben Vitia announced that discussions are underway with the Municipality of Fushë Kosovë regarding the allocation of land for the construction of an institution dedicated to caring for patients in the terminal phase of illness.“
The action plan for the Hospice has been prepared. Last year, we faced difficulties in communication with some municipalities regarding land, because there are essential conditions for where a Hospice should be built—access, location, and other factors that are crucial to ensuring dignified care for patients in the terminal stages of life. We are now in advanced discussions with the Municipality of Fushë Kosovë to allocate land there, after which we will immediately begin procedures for the conceptual design and other steps leading to the construction of the Hospice,” he said.
